Cleaning apparatus



May 8, 1923.

J. M. STEPP CLEANING APPARATUS A 2 Sheets-Sheet 'l Filed Dec. 50 1921 WITNESSES A TTORNEYS May 8, 1923.

J. M. STEPP CLEANING APPARATUS ZASheets-Sheet 2 BY @i Arm/Mfrs l specification.

Patented May s, 1923.v

UNITED STATES A l 1,454,381 PATENT OFFICE. f

Jamas .1a. sTnrP,`on HUNTINGTON, wEsT VIRGINIA.

CLEANING APPARATUS.

. Application filed December 30, 1921. Serial No. 526,015.

f To all whom/t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES M. STEPP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Huntington, in the countyy of Cabell and' State of West Virginia, yhave invented ceri g tain newand useful Improvements in Cleaning Apparatus, of which-the following is a This invention relates to cleaning devices especially adapted for use in cleaning such floor coverings as carpets and rugs.'

'Briefly stated the invention forming the subject matter. of this application is provided with novel means whereby a cleaning solution or pure water may be supplied in the form of aspray to a Hoor covering and which upon being applied to the floor covering is picked up by means of a suction head which also picks up the dirt encountered and leaves the rug or carpet as the case may be clean and dry.

A further object is to provide a cleaning device for Hoor coverings which is of highly simplified construction, durable in use and cheap to manufacture, so that the invention is Within the reach o f those in limited circumstances.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed' to designate like "l parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective of the improved f cleaning device in use.

Figure 2 is a detail vert1cal sectional view through the same.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view through a receiver for the dirt, and the cleaning solution carrying the dirt.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective il- 'lustrating a slightly modified form of suction creating means.

In the drawing` the numeral 5 generally designates a handle to which a container 6 of any desired formation is connected by means of attaching straps 7 and 8. As illustrated in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 2 the container 6 is supported in an invertedcondition and is provided withv a cap 10.

' from which a liquid discharge pipe 11 eX- tends. The forward portion of the liquid discharge pipe 11 is'connected to a spray pipe 12 by means of a iexiblevhose 13, the said spray pipe 12 being arranged rear- 14. With reference to Figure 2 it will be seen that the spray pipe 12 which is provided with a plurality of radial discharge openings is secured to the rearl side ofthe pick up head by means of fastening devices 13 of any suitable type. The lower side of the spray pipe 12 is spaced above the lower end=of the pick up head 14 and discharges the cleaning or rinsing fluid l*onto the carpet or Vioor covering rearwardly of the pick up head. The spray pipe 12 which is perforated throughout its length is of substantially the same length as the pick up head 14 so that the 1i uid discharged forms a spray of substantial y the same length as the mouth of the pick up head. It will be seen that the forward end 15 of the pick up head 14 is eX- wardly of and supported by a pick up head A suction tube 20 is connected tothe rear y end of the head 14 and is provided at its intermediate portion with an outlet opening 21 which communicates with a-fiexible hose 22. The flexible hose 22 forms 'a conducting means for the air, dirt and cleaning solution drawn upwardly by the pick up head 14 and the hose or flexible conductor 22 is connected to the cover or cap 25 of a dirt and liquid receiver 26 which may be of glass or other suitable material.

' A suction is created'within the receiver 26 by means of a vacuum cleaner 27, the frame of which is connected to the receiver by means of a vacuum pipe 28. When the suction cleaner is in operation, a Vacuum is created within the receiver 26 and draws air through the vacuum tubes 22 and 20 and -in through the pick up head 14.

When lthe vacuum is created within the pick up head 14 the cleaningv solution which has been previously sprayed upon the floor covering and the dlrt loosened vby the cleaning solution is drawn inwardly through the pick up head. This leaves the floor covering clean and dry and due to the factthat the the tloor covering rearwardl Q Maasai the said control rod having its rear ortion connected with a loop 33l adapted or the reception of one of the fingers of the operator. The rod 32 is passed through a guide sleeve 34e carried by alhandle 35 extended, into the rear portion of the suction tube and held therein by means of afastening device i lin the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure i an electric motor Ll0 is mounted upon a platform 4l and the said motor operates a suction fan enclosed within "1a casing 42. rllhe suction fan is connected by means of the pipe 44 to the liquid and dirt receiving member of the outfit.

'In operation the handle 35 is operated for drawing the pick up head over the surface of the oorcovering and the value 30 is simultaneously actuated for permitting the cleaning solution to be discharged through the sprayv pipe. The cleaning solution discharged from the spray pipe spreads upon of the head la andthe suction created within the head picks up the dirt and the cleaning solution so that the' door covering is left dry and clean and with a very desirable lustre. The apparatus may be operated entirely by one person and is extremel economical in operation. Furthermore t e several parts may be economically manufactured so that the entire apparatus may be sold at a reasonable price. Various changes may be made in the variousparts of the apparatus or if diesired the apparatus may be left perfectly am. f

P Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is i A cleaning apparatus for Hoor coverings comprising a pick-up head having a narrow elongated mouth, a handle for said head, a container for a liquid cleaning solution carried bysaid handle and having a discharge pipe,` a spray pipe connected to said discharge plpe 'and carried by said head in i i spaced parallel relation to said narrow elongated mouth, the side of said mouth adjacent said spray ipe being spaced from the floor covering W ereby the dirt and the liquid cleaning solution may readily enter the head.

JAMES M. S'lllElPlJ. 

